Conveying apparatus



I Dec. 29, 1942. -L FQEXLEY 2,306,431

CONVEYING APPARATUS Filed March 22, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 29g-1,942. Y L.. F.Ex|.EY g 2,306,431

CONVEYING APPARATUS Filed Marchvzz, 194.@r 5 sheets-sheet s Dec. 29,1942. 1L.. F.Ex| EY w corfEYv-INGv APPARATUS i Filed March 2 2. 1940 5. sheets-'sheet 4 b A ww .wo www n. e g. N V? A A L. F. EXLEY CONVEYING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 22, 1940 L50 F.' LEV Dec. 29, 1942,. f

4in the appended claims.

Patented Dec. 29, 1942 APPARATUS Leo F. ,F.xley, Johnson City, N. Y., assignor to' AEndicott Johnson Corporation, a corporation of New York Application Maxell 22, 1940, Serial No- 325,437.

` 8 Claims.

The present invention relates to conveying and stacking apparatus for the .handling of blank parts which are discharged at .regularv intervals from a processing machine, after which they are to be stacked .or arranged in close order.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide apparatus of 4this nature which will make it possible for a single operator'to feed an automatic machine on one side and to have the parts which have been operated upon by that machine returned to him adjacent the feeding station in an orderly manner and partially collected, so that the same operator may both feed and stack. One of the useful elds for this invention is the conveying and stacking of sheet-like blanks ofall kinds in shoe factories.

The practice hitherto has been to have one operator feed lthe processing machine and another operator tov inspect and assemble in stacked relation the discharged articles or blanks. With s the novel apparatus to ybe disclosed herein, the .discharged articles may fbe returned mechanical- 1y to a position where they are convenient to the ,feeding operator. The` stacking device which forms a partof the novel combination serves to Mg minimize the effort and attention required. by the operator to put the processed blanks'in Yiinally stacked 4condition for boxing or otherwise. f In essence, the apparatus of this invention comprises approximately semicircular endless convey.- ing means Whichpreferably traverse an arc of something over 180 degrees, a cradle-shaped stacking device` which Vforms a continuation of the conveying means and is `curved in longitudinal prole so as to arrange a series of overlapping. blanks in approximately face-to-.face relation,. and a combined drive and support Aior the conveying means which permits it .quickly .to be swung in la generally horizontal plane to a position affording ycomplete access to the processing machine with which it is used. .Another impor tant feature of this invention is the .head or housing which eri-circles the conveying means and cooperates therewith to produce smooth and efficient operation throughout a full return bend.

The stacking device r described illustratively herein is provided with parallel bars having a low ,coeicient of friction inorder to facilitate the handling of blanks or objects which are rough or tack-y in nature. Adjustable means areprovided for regulating the operating position or inclination of the stacking device.

Other details uand features of the invention, including the construction and y.combination of its various parts, will be describedinconnection .f

with an illustrative embodimentk and pointed out Reterepee is now mede to Ythe accompanying .drevviiigsm which Fig. 1..ise1tepplan Lew of- .the` oonveringand stacking apparatusl in cooperative relation to a 'ptoeeeeiog maohiiie;

Fig, 2 .is e iront elevation of the apparatus .Shown in Fig 1 having Certain ports of the Supporting means .11.1 eeotoil 3 is an end elevation ofthe conveying appatates alone with `the Supporting moons thore- ,for .shown in vertioelseetion;

Fig, Liis an enlargedv top plan view of the conveying apparatus:

Fig...- 5 .is a side-elevation looking towards. the yends of. the Conveying-means and its housing:

Fig.. l(i .is detailed etosefeeotion taken on line Afd of Fig.- fl;

Fig. 'Z lis an additionaldetailed cross-section .on the line B-JB oi Fig.. .1;

Fig, .8 .isa fragmentary plan view showing the .nature of. .the bearing ineens for the Conveying apparatus;

Fig. 9 is a detailed .seetion taken on the line C-C of Fig. 8 with the driving chains for the Conveyor in pleoe; and

Fig- .l0}iS.. adetailed .seotion .on the line D-,D of Fig. 8 alsoA illustrating further the driving rchains .forthe oonvevor- A semioiroular .conveying ineens l0 of endless oroontinuoustype providing .Spe-eed upper epd lower .runs associated with one of its. ends o. Stool-ting device .indicated generally as l.2 which reoeivesa .serie- S of blanks 12,12 delivered thereto by .the conveying means lo. .Ip Eig.. 1 .thereisipdiroated diagrammaticallv automatiemaehipe M .for operating on or processing said blanket anodisoharging them to. the .end of the` conveying ineens which is remote .from thestaolllg device l2. A head or housing- 14 eneircles the conveying means l0 and :is pivotally supported by a pedestal I6 adjacent the stacking device` l2. It will be noted also that a standard I8 supports the stacking device I2. so las to form a continuation ofthe conveying means I0 at its delivery engi,4

While -thefconveyingrneans has been designated generally as lo, attention is new oelled to Figs. 1. and 4, in which vit is ,seen to Acomprise an .endless .conveyor belt 20 of any suitable Inaterial, rubberized. .iep .e in this instante, and e continuous series of; uniformly spaced. oroee mempers or pero 2.2 wliioh are .spaced with respect thereto as shown. in..selidFig-v 4, and. preferably formed .from e .metal which is .Suilieieptlv rigid and toggh- A Ieo,iitiiiuoiie oloein 2i epd e .Similar oli-ter ehem 1,2 i. eiiteiielip; perellel. speeed relation .to the respective edges deiinirlgthe upper and .lower runs of the belt 20-v Bv .moons .such

as rivets 2,8, theorossrnembers 22 are secured to the under-.or inner side of. the .belt .20 in radial positions `which have a common center on the axis of the Conveying `means 10. `The innery Chain. 2i ie provided fwith oireumfereptially epeoed inwardly. extendingtldge .30l and .the poter chain 26 with similarly extending lugs 32 for connection with the cross members 22. A guide roller 34 is mounted on the inner end of each cross bar 22 and turns on a vertical pin 36 which serves also to connect the said cross bar 32 with its respective chain lug link 36. On the other hand, the outer end of each cross bar 22 is more simply joined to an outer chain lug link 36 through the medium of a rivet 38, the inner and outer ends of the cross bar 22 in each instance being on top of the lug links. Obviously, the chains 24 and 26 are constructed to accommodate the curvature in plan of the belt 26.

As shown best in the enlarged section of Fig. 6, each cross member or bar 22 is formed with a fiat inwardly depressed portion 46 for purposes which are to be described. The relation of these depressed portions 46 to the chain sprockets is a very important one because it insures the smooth operation of the very unusual form of semicircular conveyor embodying this invention.

At the end adjacent pedestal I6, the working head I4 for the conveying means (las seen in Figs. 8, 9 and 10) is provided with a suitable, aligned pair of journal bearings 4| and 42 adjustably secured at its inner and outer portions by means such as bolts 43, 43 passing through inwardly extending circular lugs 44 and 45, respectively. The bearings 4I and 42 support a drive shaft 46 which extends horizontally and rotates a large outer sprocket 48 and small inner sprocket 56 with their conveyor chains 26 and 24, respectively. It is to be observed that the inner end of the drive shaft 46 extends through the working head or housing I4 and carries externally of said housing a driving sprocket 52.

When the longitudinal axis of a transverse section of the conveyor belt 26 is made to coincide with a line connecting the pitch diameters of the large outer chain sprocket 48 and the small inner chain sprocket 56 at each end of the conveyor, the transition or turn at the end points can be made without distortion, binding, or slipping of the belt 26. To produce this highly desirable result, the surface ordepressed portion 46 of each cross member-22 which underlies and supports the belt 26 is made parallel to the described downwardly land inwardly inclined line which connects the sprocket pitch diameters and is carefully positioned to support said belt 26 in the essential position which has been stated.

In order to insure the proper spacing of the cross members 22 at all times, the drive shaft 46 carries intermediate its bearings a frustoconical guide pulley 54, the lateral surface taper of which corresponds to that dened by a vertically aligned pair of cross bars 22, with this exception: diametrically opposed recesses 56, 56 are provided in the outer surface of the frusto-conical guide pulley 54 of such a depth and shape as may be necessary completely to receive said cross members as they make an end turn. The size of the frusto-conical guide pulley 54 is such a one as will maintain the longitudinal center line of the conveyor belt 26 section in the specified position and prevent stress and strain.

Except for a shaft 46 which terminates within the working head I4, the endless conveyor chain sprockets 46 and 56, bearings 4I, 42, and frustoconical guide pulley 54 at the receiving end of the conveying means I6 correspond in details with those of the rotatable means which have been described for the pedestal or delivery end.

Attention will next be given to the detailed nature of the working head or conveyor housing I4, as'illustnated by Fig. 6. As has been explained, the head I4, which may be a casting of relatively light metal such as aluminum or suitably fabricated otherwise into an integral structure, is semicircular with a circular inner side wall 66, a bottom wall 62, and an outer side wall 64, also circular. Note is made of an inwardly extending flange 66 which overhangs the outer conveyor chain 26 to prevent the same from riding upwardly due to the resultant of forces acting upon a. conveyor of this peculiar shape. The rollers 34 serve to guide the inner ends of the cross members 22 and to receive the preponderance of thrust in a radial direction. It has been found desirable to employ a replaceable Wear strip 68 yon the upper portion of the inner face of the side wall 66 for the excessive wearing action in that area. A continuous guide surface 16, which may be an integral'part of the housing I4, extends around the said housing in a position which supports the conveyor belt 26 and cross members 22 in their upper run, that is to say, the surface inclines downwardly and inwardly with respect to the working head I4 and at the same inclination as the depressed portions 46 and the upper element of the guide pulley 54. The ends of the guide surface I6 are positioned to receive the belt 26 after it leaves the guide pulleys and yet to provide suitable clearance for the latter. In this manner, the working head I4 snugly encloses the lower run and side edges of the conveyor belt I6 and its driving chains 24, 26.

The pedestal I6, which pivotally supports the working head I4 as a cantilever and lies wholly below the upper run of the conveyor belt 26, comprises a novel arrangement of elements which will now be considered more fully. A base I2 of sufficient circumference to give stability rests upon the floor and is formed with an upwardly extending socket or boss 'I4 at its center. The socket I4 receives a vertical shaft I6 around which turns a shelf orbracket support I8 for an electric motor 86 of suitable type and capacity, an upper support 82 for a standard form of speed reducer 84, and a top flange member 86 which will be further referred to herein. A tie bar 88 is bolted or otherwise detaohably secured Yto the motor support 1.8, the speed reducer support 82, and the top flange member 86 adjacent their respective hubs so as to maintain them in fixed and spaced relation for rotation about the vertical shaft 16. Figs. 2 and 5 serve to indicate a circular boss 96 on the bottom of working head I4 'somewhat inwardly of its stacking device end. A spaced series of cap screws 92 extend upwardly through an enlarged-portion or'ilange 94 of the top member 86 and secure the latter member to the head I 4.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be seen that the motor 86 has a pulley 96 mounted on its inner end adjacent the Vertical pedestal shaft I6 and that a belt 98 connects that pulley to an aligned one |66 on the input shaft of the speed reducer 84, the belt 68 passing through the speed reducer support 82, as shown. AA driving chain |62 connects the conveyor sprocket 52 With an output sprocket |64 of the speed reducer 84 and extends in a plane which is perpendicular to that of the motor belt |66.

A close fitting outer casing |66 in two parts encloses the motor 86 and speed reducer 84, and is in turn sustained by horizontally extending cap screws |68 which engage the periphery of the enlarged flange portion 94 of the'member 86. The tie bar 88 for the rotating'members carries pivot mounting. position properly to align the stacking-device I2, with the working head I4 ofthe conveying appa- 2U in'accordance withthe rate of output oft-he an outwardly projecting element 'I Il! which eX- t'ends through 'the casing |05 to aid its rotation. The upper end of the shaft 'I5 supports the working head boss 90 and the other rotating parts which are connected to the top flange member '86, which it will be recalled is arranged to rotate ward the stacking device I2. With the mounting and arrangementof drive parts which has been' described, the working head I4 and the power drive for the conveying` means II) may be readily pivoted or swung horizontally about the base I2 and away from the machine M with Which it is normally associated. Suflicient flexibility for this purpose is afforded by a flexible electrical coninection or pigtail I I2 passes through base 'I2 tol the electric motor 8l).

In its details, the stacking device I2 comprises a cradle-shaped member having a longitudinal prole which closely resembles an exponential curve, departing therefrom in its sharply curved lower end |I4 which i-s nearly vertical. Where the blanks b possess such physical characteristics that they do not slide easily, it has been found advantageous to form the upper surface rof the stacking device I2 with a series of spaced parallel bars IIB extending longitudinally fromend to end. These bars IIB'are preferably metal which is highly polished to reduce its coefficient of friction on the upper surface which engages and supports the blanks at spaced points. To provide clearance for adjacent portions of the conveying means III and thus permit the stacking device to form a practically uninterrupted continuation of the belt 20, the inner cornersof the stacking device I2 have been notched at IIB and respectively in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1.

, A downwardly extending pair of parallel lugs |22 (only one of which is shown) is provided near socket |24 on its upper end, which socket is pro-l vided with a corresponding pair of lugs I 2dV (only one being shown) pivotally connected to the stacking device lugs |22 by means such as pin |28. On its opposite or inner side,Y the rotatable socket |24 is formed to receive a pair of vertically extending screws I3 arranged to engagea pair of similarly spaced bosses |32 on the bottom of the stacking device I2 and inwardly of the When the socket |24 is in a ratus, itmay be retained in that position against movement in a horizontal plane by a setA screw |34. The Ydotted line showing of the stacking device I2 in Fig. 1 serves to illustrate how readily.

.vvice in accordance with the specic nature of the blanks to be handled.

Certain other novel aspects of this invention will be brought out in connection with the following summary of its operation. The operator will first adjust the linear speed of the conveyor belt machine with which itis to be used and the `phys ical dimensions of the blanks being operated upon, for example, according to size and outline if the usual variety of shoe parts `comprising toe blanks, counters, sole members and the like are to beprocessed. lIt will be quite obvious that endless, fle'xible conveyors or belts vvoi? other familiar types, such as fora'minous, cleated,` or receptacle may be used where the work requires. With the adjusting means which have been provided for the stacking device I2, this member also may be set to operate with maximum efliciency over a range of sizes, shapes, and materials. As the blanks b, b are delivered at a'constant rate from the machine M to the conveyor belt 2li, it will be possible andoften desirable to operate the latter at a speed which will produce the overlapping relationship or pattern which has been illustrated. When these blanks b, la` are discharged essed blanks b will be within the vision of the operator for inspection and rejection of any defective items. f y

It will be recognized that the successful operation of a half-turn conveyor vof the endless belt type which has beendescribed herein depends upon the outlined arrangement of the conveyor belt 20 with respect to the sprockets, 48, 50, which drive endless chains, 24, 26, the novel form of cross members 22 which hold the conveyor belt to a relatively fixed path, and the frusto-conical guide pulleys 54 with their cooperating recesses 56 for said cross members. The satisfactory operation of such'a conveyor is achieved by the arrangement and combination of parts which have been speciiied and also the guiding and restraining action provided bythe working head I4. Moreover, the utility of the conveying means Ill and its cooperating st'ackingdevice |2 is materially increased byy the manner in which they are supported for movement outof and into working relation with vrespect to the processing machine and each othe'r without disconnecting any parts.

Having thus ydescribed vmy invention, what I claim as novel and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a .return bend conveying apparatus, a continuous, eXible conveyor member arranged to provide semi-circular upper and lower runs; an inner conveyor chain for the corresponding edge of the conveyor member; an outer conveyor chain for the opposite edge of said conveyor member;` a pair of sprockets at'each end of the conveyor member and over which the chains run, said pairs of sprockets being'of unequal size with the larger ones engaging the outer conveyor chain and the smaller ones the inner conveyor chain; and cross member'means arranged to secure the flexible conveyor member to the respecs tive chains and being depressed so that the transfverse, longitudinal center line of said conveyer member'ncoincides substantially with a line joining the pitch diameters of lthe sprockets at opposite points of chain engagement.

-2. A conveying apparatus comprising an endless 4belt having substantially semicircular upper and lower runs; a continuous drive chain at the Ainner edges of *,said belt; a continuous drive chain at the outer edges of said belt, two pairs of unequal size sprockets for supporting and driving said chains at the ends of the belt, the larger sprocket of each pair engaging the chain adjacent the outer belt edges; housing means for the endless belt, said vhousing including a continuous surface which extends between the two pairs of sprockets and is formed and arranged to support the entire underface of the upper run of the belt; cross members secured to the belt at spaced intervals and connected at their ends to the respective chains, the cross members being depressed intermediate their ends to support the belt so that the longitudinal center line of a transverse section will coincide with a line connecting corresponding parts of the sprockets of a pair; and a frusto-conical guide pulley for each end of the belt and coaxial with the respective pairs of sprockets.

3. A conveying apparatus comprising an endless belt having a spaced pair of substantially semicircular runs; a continuous drive chain at the inner edges of said belt; a continuous drive chain at the outer edges of said belt; two pairs of unequal size sprockets for supporting and driving said chains at the end of the belt, the larger sprocket of each pair engaging the chain adjacent the outer belt edges; cross members Secured to the belt at spaced intervals and connected at their ends to the respective chains, Ythe cross members being depressed intermediate their ends to support the belt so that the longitudinal center lin'e of a transverse section will coincide with a line connecting corresponding parts of the sprockets of a pair; and a frusto-conical guide pulley for each end of the belt and coaxial with the respective pairs of sprockets.

4. A conveying apparatus comprising an endless belt having substantially semicircular upper and lower runs; a continuous drive chain at the inner edges of said belt; a continuous drive chain L.

at the outer edges of said belt; two pairs of unequal size sprockets for supporting and driving said chains at the ends of the belt, the larger sprocket of each pair engaging the chain adjacent the outer belt edges; cross members secured to the belt at spaced intervals and connected at their ends to the respective chains, the cross members being depressed intermediate their ends to support the belt so that the longitudinal center line of a transverse section will coincide with a line connecting corresponding parts of the sprockets of a pair; and a frusto-conical guide pulley for each end of the belt and coaxial with the respective pairs of sprockets, said guide pulleys being recessed for engagement with the cross members.

5. A return bend conveying apparatus which comprises in combination, an endless conveyor belt having upper and lower runs of semicircular shape; an inwardly tapered frusto-conical guide pulley within each end of the belt; uniformly spaced cross members secured to the inner side of the belt in radial fashion throughout its length and projecting beyond the edges thereof; continuous driving chains at the inner and outer circumferential edges of the belt and connected to the adjacent ends of the cross members; a pair of large and small driving chain sprockets coaxial with and at opposite ends of each conical guide pulley, the sprockets and cross members being shaped and arranged to support the belt in planes coincident with elements of the conical guide pulleys; a horizontal roller rotatably carried by the e of semicircular outline larranged to cover the lower run and side edges of the conveyor belt, said housing having an inwardly extending flange at its outer upper edge disposed to prevent appreciable upward movement of the outer drive chain or the outer ends of the cross members and an inner side wall of circular shape to receive the radial thrust of the belt and guide the cross member rollers.

6. A return bend conveying apparatus which comprises in combination, an endless conveyor belt having upper and lower runs of semicircular shape; an inwardly tapered frusta-conical guide pulley within each end of the belt; uniformly spaced cross members secured to the inner side of the belt in radial fashion throughout its length and projecting beyond the edges thereof, said guide pulleys having longitudinal recesses formed and arranged to receive portions of the cross members; continuous driving chains at the inner and outer circumferential edges of the belt and connected to the adjacent ends of the cross members; a pair of large and small driving chain sprockets coaxial with and at opposite ends of each conical guide pulley, the sprockets and cross members being shaped and arranged to support the belt in planes coincident with elements of the conical guide pulleys; a horizontal roller rotatably carried by the inner end of each cross member; and an integral Working head of semicircular outline arranged to cover only the lower run and side edges of the conveyor belt, said working head having an inwardly extending ange at its outer upper edge disposed to prevent appreciable upward movement of the outer` drive ber rollers.

7. In combination, a semicircular conveyory member of the endless belt type with one run above the other; a semicircular housing surrounding said conveyor member; frusto-conical rotatable means at each end of the housing tapering toward the center thereof and around which the conveyor member is passed, said housing including a continuous surface which extends between the frusto-conical rotatable means at each end and is formed and arranged to support the entire underface of the upper run of the conveyor member between the frusto-conical rotatable means and at the same inclination as said frustoconical rotatable means; and a pedestal pivotally connected in supporting relation to the housing adjacent one end only, said pedestal being disposed below the upper run of the conveyor member to provide unobstructed access to both ends thereof.

8. In combination, a semicircular conveyor member of the endless belt type with one run above the other; a semicircular housing surrounding said conveyor member; frusto-conical rotatable means at each end of the housing tapering toward the center thereof and around which the conveyor member is passed, said housing including a continuous surface which extends between the frusto-conical rotatable means at each end and is formed and arranged to support the entire underface of the upper run of the conveyor member between the frusto-conical rotatable means and at the same inclination as said frustoconical rotatable means; and means pivotally supporting the housing adjacent one end.

LEO F. EXLEY. 

